5 scientific reasons guys should sleep naked

Most guys don’t put a lot of thought into what they wear to bed. Either you sleep in your boxers, you sleep in the buff, or you pass out on the bathroom floor, wearing all your clothes, in a puddle of your own vomit. That’s the manliest way to go to sleep.

However, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation, only 12 percent of American men go to sleep naked. That’s pretty surprising. We seem like such puritans compared to other countries. For example, in Finland, men and women go to the sauna together naked. The U.K. has several nude beaches. In The Netherlands, you can walk down the street nude “as long as you’re acting normal.” But in America, we’re too conservative to be naked between the sheets?

Well, maybe those crazy Europeans have the right idea. A recent article by Men’s Health revealed five scientific reasons why guys should sleep in the nude:

1. You’ll sleep better

You know how some nights, you toss and turn in bed, but just can’t fall asleep? There’s actually a scientific explanation. You shouldn’t have done all those lines of cocaine. Also, clothing can interfere with your natural body temperature. When you fall asleep, your body temperature declines, and before you wake up, it rises again. If you wake up sweaty in the middle of the night, it’s probably because of all that extra insulation. (Or you live in Derry, Maine, are being targeted by Pennywise The Dancing Clown.)

2. Ignites your metabolism

In a study published by the journal Diabetes, researchers discovered that sleeping in a cold room had a unique effect on people. Their bodies produced double the amount of ‘brown fat’ as people who slept in a warm room. Not all body fat is the same; ‘brown fat’ is stored in your neck, and burns calories to mark body heat. Therefore, if you stay cool all night, you can potentially ignite your metabolism. And one way to lower your body temperature is to ditch the clothes.

3. It’s a whole new ball game

According to urologists, sleeping in your underwear increases your chances of getting an infection. Your underwear does a great job of hiding your junk, but it can also create a warm, moist breeding ground for bacteria. Basically, if you’re not manscaping, the inside of your underwear is like Las Vegas for bacteria. Also, the fabric of your underwear can chafe and irritate your skin, increasing the odds of an infection even more. Sleeping naked is cleaner, and healthier – in bed, anyway. If you’re grabbing some Z’s during your plane flight, keep your clothes on..

4. Nurtures sperm

Doctors say that you can optimize sperm production if your scrotum hits the perfect temperature: 95 or 96 degrees, just a little bit cooler than the rest of your body. If your testicles get too hot, your sperm suffers, like that pizza you put in the oven and forgot about. And wearing tight underwear can raise your body temperature, so if you don’t want to sperm to look like that black rock-hard pizza, you better ditch the skivvies.

5. You will get closer to your partner

Ever heard of oxytocin? No, it’s not some hip new drug, but the effects are somewhat similar. Oxytocin is a hormone in your brain that reduces stress, increases your libido and makes you feel more connected to your partner. Sounds pretty sweet, right? Well, if you want a hook-up, Swedish researchers “got the plug.” They discovered that when you make skin-to-skin contact with another person, it triggers the release of oxytocin. So, you and your partner now have an excuse to sleep naked (as if you needed one).

Well, guys, now you know five scientific reasons to sleep in the buff. Let’s see if if we raise America’s percentage of naked sleepers, to compete with Europe. Personally, I’m going to stick to sleeping in my glow-in-the-dark spaceship pajamas, because they’re pretty sweet.